Are you looking for the best area to stay in Barcelona? Our guide will help you choose the best place for a successful stay. It includes the best places to stay in Barcelona and our selection of the best accommodations, hotels, and apartments to make the most of your trip.
- Best areas where to stay in Barcelona ?
- Barcelona for couples ?
- For a family stay ?
- With friends: where to stay in Barcelona with friends ?
- How to get from the airport to downtown Barcelona? ✈️
- The TOP 5 attractions to visit in Barcelona ✨
Our favorites in Barcelona, Spain
- Ideal location: Room Mate Pau
- With rooftop pool: Yurbban Trafalgar Hotel
- For couples: H10 Urquinaona Plaza
- For family: HCC Taber
- Apartment: Paseo de Gracia Bas Apartments
- Luxury hotel: Alma Barcelona GL
- Hostel: Unite Hostel Barcelona
1. Best neighborhoods to stay in for visiting Barcelona
Which neighborhood should you stay in Barcelona? Here are our top picks, although each area has its pros and cons.
- Eixample: the district where beautiful examples of Gaudi’s architecture can be found, beautiful tree-lined avenues, perfect for choosing your accommodation in Barcelona for a trip
- Gothic Quarter: the medieval district, the oldest area of Barcelona, lovely little streets, but sometimes accommodations are not very bright, hence the need to carefully select and choose
- Gracia: a pleasant and less touristy district of Barcelona, but farther away from the principal attractions (see further down in the article)
- El Born: a central neighborhood close to the Gothic Quarter
- Poblenou: a district close to the beach of Barcelona
- Raval: a district close to the Gothic Quarter and formerly considered as poorly reputed, but whose image has been improving for some years now
- Barceloneta: between the beach of Barcelona and the port of Barcelona, a bit away from the city and the main attractions
Romantic trip to Barcelona. The best neighborhoods for couples to stay in are Eixample or the Gothic Quarter.
Travel as a family. The best neighborhoods in Barcelona for a family trip are Gracia, Eixample, or the Gothic Quarter.
Travel with friends. If you go to Barcelona to visit this magnificent city, but also to go out and party, the best neighborhoods where to stay in Barcelona are rather El Born, Poblenou, or Raval. These neighborhoods are lively, or close to the lively places in Barcelona.
2. Hotels to stay in Barcelona for couples
Here is our selection of hotels for making the most of a trip to Barcelona as a couple.
Catalonia Catedral is a stunning hotel for couples in Barcelona. The decoration and atmosphere are excellent and even remarkable. The location is ideal for visiting Barcelona, specifically in the old town between the Gothic Quarter and the Eixample district.
H10 Urquinaona Plaza is in the Eixample district in an elegant 19th-century building. It offers clean and pleasant double rooms for a romantic stay.
3. Best accommodations for a stay in Barcelona with the family
Where can you stay with your family in Barcelona? Here are the best hotels in Barcelona for a family trip.
Vincci Gala is in Eixample, near the Gothic Quarter. The hotel offers connecting 44m2 double rooms, one with a double bed and another with two single beds.
Barcelona Apartment Val: spacious apartments with 2 or 3 bedrooms in Eixample. Very convenient for a trip to Barcelona with the family.
Hotel Denit Barcelona: located in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, this hotel offers triple rooms, which is convenient for a trip to Barcelona with a young child.
Catalunya 1: This stunning 5-bedroom apartment is in the center, at the corner of Plaza Catalunya and Paseo de Gracia.
4. Where can you stay on a budget to visit Barcelona with friends?
Hostels are a good option for a trip to Barcelona with friends, but also some apartments. Here is our selection of apartments and youth hostels to stay in to visit Barcelona with friends:
Unite Hostel Barcelona: Located 400 meters from Nova Icària beach, this hostel offers beds in 8-person dormitories. Some dormitories are for women only. It’s a great location for visiting and going out in Barcelona!
Decô Apartments Barcelona-Born Apt: located in the El Born district, these apartments are perfect for a stay with friends in Barcelona.
5. How to get from the airport to downtown Barcelona?
When choosing your accommodation in Barcelona, it’s also important to know how to get from the airport to your hotel, apartment, or hostel. For example, the shuttle buses that run between the airport and the city center go as far as Catalonia Square. Therefore, accommodations close to this square will be more interesting for you.
Barcelona’s airport is located just 14km from Barcelona. Generally, going from Barcelona airport to the city center takes little time. Several options are available. You can also get a transport card (see below).
- Book a taxi from the airport to your accommodation: no hassles with suitcases, the most convenient.
- Take the shuttle, the Aerobus, which departs from Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 and goes to Catalonia Square: the journey will take 35 minutes (6 euros for a single ticket, 11 euros for a round trip), but you will also need to add the time between the square and your accommodation. Buses depart every 10 minutes. If you choose this option, consider the distance between the accommodation location where you will stay in Barcelona and the bus stops.
- Take the train: it is the most economical option. It takes 30 minutes to travel, departs every 30 minutes, and costs 2 euros per person. There are two stops in downtown Barcelona (Estacio Sants and Passeig de Gràcia).
Good to know! If you are going to Barcelona, it might be worth getting an unlimited transport card. It will allow you to use public transport and get from the airport to your accommodation, and vice versa. Check the rates here: Barcelona public transport card for 48, 72, 96, or 120 h.
6. The TOP places to visit in Barcelona
Likewise, to choose the location of your accommodation wisely and even to prepare for your trip to Barcelona, here are the must-sees places:
- Sagrada Familia (outside the old town, more or less close to the Eixample district)
- Barcelona Cathedral (Gothic Quarter)
- La Rambla (famous avenue in Barcelona located between the Gothic Quarter and Raval)
- Casa Milà and Casa Battlò (stunning examples of Gaudì’s architecture, Eixample district)
To discover everything to do and see in Barcelona, read this blog article: Itineraries to visit Barcelona in 2, 3 or 4 days (Coming Soon).
The best areas for couples or to stay with family are the Eixample and Gracia districts. If you visit Barcelona with friends, districts such as El Born, Raval, and Poblenou will be most enjoyable. The Gothic Quarter is the most central area of Barcelona. However, the heart of the Gothic Quarter is not always the most comfortable or quiet place to stay. If you choose the Gothic Quarter, you must carefully select your accommodation. For instance, carefully look at the features of the accommodation and reviews from other travelers to avoid any unpleasant surprises.
